South Korean shares diverged, finishing lower as investors nervous about upcoming European events took profits, while Japanese stocks ended flat as exporters were hit by the yen’s gains after the Bank of Japan left its monetary policy stance unchanged.

“Markets are in wait-and-see mode ahead of Greek elections, with range-trading likely to dominate market action, albeit with a slightly risk-on bias,” said Mitul Kotecha, a strategist at Credit Agricole.

“It is not only the Fed that markets believe may act, with reports overnight suggesting that there may be some form of coordinated action by central banks should the Greek election outcome prove to be unfavorable,” he added, referring to a Reuters news report that central banks stood ready to provide liquidity, if needed, which boosted stocks on Wall Street. Read more on U.S. stocks.

Shares of Esprit Holdings Ltd. (330)
ESP, +3.57%
soared 9.9% in Hong Kong after two days of hefty losses on worries about senior executives leaving the compnay. But the rebound Friday came after its departing chief executive said his resignation didn’t indicate a crisis at the company. The shares are still down 19.7% this week. Read more on Esprit’s recent troubles.

Shares of Chinese dairy producers declined on news Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co. (600887) has recalled some milk powder products, after a government inspection found “unusual” levels of mercury in them. Shares of the company tumbled by the day’s 10% limit in Shanghai, while China Mengniu Dairy Co. (2319) lost 3.2% in Hong Kong.

Among other notable movers, shares of department store operator Takashimaya Co. (8233)
TKSHF
added 0.5% in Tokyo after the Nikkei newspaper reported that its operating profit for the March-to-May period jumped 40%.

Samsung Electronics Co.
SSNLF, +0.00%
tumbled 3.5% after two of the company’s display panel units said that some of their flat panel manufacturing lines were briefly suspended on Thursday due to a power shortage, according to reports.

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